Three-way ball valve



Oct' 14, 1952 P. H. PALEN THREE-WAY BALL VALVE Filed May 14, 1947 INVENTOR PETER H. PALEN @LM/w fw ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 14, 1952 Peter H. Palen, Paterson, N. assgnorto Reaction Motors, Inc., Dover, N.

New Jersey l Application May 14, 19

1 claim. (ol. 5i-rosy p The present .invention relates to fluid control valves and more particularly to an improved valve of the three-way type.:

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved valve of simplified construction, wherein close manufacturing. .tolerances are not required and initial assembly thereof may be `quickly efected.

A further object ofthe invention isy to provide a valve construction embodying a valve seating arrangement which is self-compensating upon initial assembly and also after wear of the parts occurs.

A still further object is to provide a valve construction in which the port opening and closing member is free, floating between its seats,

which latter are resiliently urged against the member to elect a seal and maintain it after wear occurs.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and best modefwhich has been contemplated, of'applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation ofthe valve and its operating means, with the valve in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar section in part, With the valve shown yin open or operating position.

Fig. 3 is a Section taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, ID represents the main supporting member which is provided with an annular opening I I, through which the valve body I2 extends. Valve body I2 is securely clamped to member I between its flange I3 and head I4 threaded on the body. Gasket I5 and sealing ring I6 serve to provide a tight seal. Head I4 is configured for connection to a line from which fluid may be admitted to the interior of the valve body through port I1.

Within the valve body is slidably fitted a pair of identical circular valve seats I8 and I9, each with an annular groove for retaining a pressure seal ring 20. Between the seats I8 and I9 is positioned a ball 2I flatted at the top so that, when in the position shown in Fig. 1, it seals the opening through both seats I8 and I9. Body I2 is shouldered at 22 and a spring 23 exerts pressure against seat I9, so that the seats and ball are 'urged toward the shoulder in accordance with the compression of the spring. Body I2 has an annular groove 24 in substantial alignment with the center of ball 2I anda plurality of holes J., a, corporation of 47, serialvNb. 747,929

25 serve to afford communication from fthe space betweenseats I8 and I9 andthe groove 24. VIn linewith the groove 24 is a duct 26 through member I0 to whicha line may be-connected in any' suitable manner.

The valve is assembled by simplyextending body I2 through opening II, sliding seat I8, ball.;2l,.seat I9 and spring 23 into'the body in succession and threadingthe head I4 in place. This having been done, the valve is in readiness to function with spring 23 compressing the elements as in Fig. 1, where the ball is in closing position. If portv I'I isnow connected to a source of pressure, seat I9 will be subjected to a further force acting against its right hand surface, pressing it tightly against ball 2| and the latter pressing tightly against seat I8, preventing any passage of fluid or gas while the ball is in its closing position. v

By tilting the ball to the position of Fig. 2 so as-to expose the flatted area to the opening through seat I9, a flow of fluid or gas will occur through the seat I9 into the chamber between the seats, thence through the holes 25 and groove 24 to duct 26, from where it is directed to its destination.

Returning the ball to its Fig. 1 position, the flow will be interrupted and, if desired, by tilting ball 2| in the opposite direction so as to expose the flatted area to the opening through seat I8 the duct 26 and the chamber between the seats Will be vented through seat I8.

One lform of mechanism for tilting the ball may comprise a stem 21 integral with the ball and extending in the direction of the axis of the valve body. A cross bar at its free end is slidable in a cam groove 28 in a plunger 29 slidable in the valve bore. Thus, by sliding plungerv 29'to the right as inl Fig. 2 the end of stem 2I will be tilted up to rock the ball clockwise to its opening position, and by sliding the plunger in the opposite direction the ball will be rocked counterclockwise to its venting position.

The plunger 29 is supported in a diaphragm 39 which serves to hold it normally in its central position, Aand application of pressure through means not .shown to deflect the diaphragm to the left or right will cause acorresponding movement of the plunger to operate ball 2 I.

p Itis to be noted that the only force to be overcome in actuating the valve is that required to balance the friction load of the ball 2I on the contacting edges ofthe seats I8 and I9. force being small in terms of the usual actuating loads found in pneumatic valves, the mechanism This parent that as wear occurs in the ball or seats or both the sealing pressure wil1 nevertheless remain eiective with the ball shiftingy slightly'tor the left to compensate for changes in dimension While-'there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features `of the invention as applied to a single modificacommunication past the said at between on end of the passage and the space between said seats, in a second position it affords communication between the other end of the passage and the space between the seats, and in a third position it prevents such communication, and means for rotatively tilting said ball from one to each tion, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details ofthe device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art with-v out departing from the'spirit of the invention. It is the, intention therefore to-be limited only as indicated by the scope of .the following claim.

What is claimed is: f

A valve body having 'a fluid passage therethrough, a pair of spaced 'circular valve seats in said passage one of which is spring loaded, a solid ball positioned within the space between the seats andsolely supported thereby forrotary movement, said ball havinga ilat thereon so configured that when theV ball. is in one position it-affords of the other positions about a transversercentral axis of said ballwhich is perpendicular to the llongitudinal axis of said passage and substantially parallel to the said flat.

PETER H. PALEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITEDY STATES PATENTS Number YNarne Date r238,768 Druckliebn Mar. 15, 1881 548,518 Casey Oct. 22, 1895 Y779,786 Kilbourn June 10, ,1905; 1,195,336 Canning Aug. 22; 1916 1,670,691 Riggin May 22, 1928 1,677,242 Larrigan f f f July 17,1928 1,681,966 Zeidler Aug.' 28,' 1928 2,078,315 Coltman Apr.27, 1937 2,201,895 Glen May.2,1r1.940 2,337,321 Freemany =Dec.`2'1.,f1943 FOREIGN PATENTS p Number Country Date Great Britain July 31,- 189'? 

